Surface condenser water-circulation system



Oct. 29, 1929; J. FJQRAQE,

sunmbz CONDENSER WAT-ER CIRQULATION SYSTEM 2 Sheets*-Shee t 1 Filed Aug. 3; 1926 Join: F. GRACE.

. INVENTOR ATTORNEY ct. 259, H C29. .1. F. GRACE SURFACE CONDENSER WATER CIRCULATION SYSTEM Filed Aug. 3. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 g 2, JOHN FGRACE ATTORNEY 4 JOHN F. GRACE, F ARLINGTON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO WORTHINGTON PUMP AND MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A JORPORATION VIR- GINIA l I sunrises conmmsnn WATER-CIRCULATION sYs'rEm Application med August's, 1926. Serial No. 126,771.

This invention relates to surfacecondensers of the type used in power plant systems and more particularly to a system of water circulation whereby the direction of flow of the cooling water through the condenser may be reversed when desired. o In condenser systems other than the pure water type dbris,'algae, other growths and foreign material collect against the tube heads at the entrance to the tubes and interfere with the .fiow of the cooling water through the condenser, thereby afl'ecti'ng the efiiciency of the condenser.

It is an object of the present invention'to provide a condenser system in whichthe accumulate'd dbris, growths, etc. may be removed from the tube heads without requiring theshutting down of operation of the con-' denser and the time and expense contingent with such stoppage and the removal of the dbris, by providing a structure wherein the direction of flow of the cooling water through the condenser may be reversed and will wash the dbris'and growths away from the tube 0 head.

With these objects in- View, the invention consists in various features of construction and combination of parts, which will be first described in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing a surface condenser water circulation system of the preferred form embodying the invention, and the features formingthe invention will be specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings- Figure 1-is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section of one form the improved condenser system.

Figure 2 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section of another form of the condenser system.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 indicates a surface "type condenser which includes a plurality of tubes 3 through which cooling water is circulated for facilitating the condensing of steam within the condenser and in the normal and usual operation of the condenser the cOOIingJQWater is pumped from the intake channel 4 a pump 5 which is illustrated in the drawings as a pump into the condenser.

"rotation of the motor 6 may be controlled.

The pump 5 draws the water from the channel 4 upwardly through the nozzle 8 in the direction indicated by the solid line arrowA and discharges it'into an intake water box 9 of the condenser 1. The water is forced throughv the tubes 3 of the condenser l and discharged out of the normal discharge water box 10 through the outlet pipe 11 into the discharge channel 12. A movable or traveling screen 13 is positioned in the intake channel 4 for screening dbris and foreign matter 5 from the water prior to its entrance into the pump; however, particles of dbris pass through the screen and are umped by the uch dbris and algae and other growths accumulate on the tube head 14 of the condenser as shown at 15" and interfere with the flow of the cooling water through the tubes, and consequently t with the efiiciency of the condenser, The.

. pump 5 is preferably of a screw propeller or other type by which the direction of flow of water can be reversed by reversing the direction of rotation of the impeller of the pump and thus by reversing the motor 6 through the reversed terminal connections 7 the direction of rotation of the impeller 16 of the pump 5 may be reversed which will reverse the direction of'flow of water through the condenser, taking the water from what is normally the discharge channel 12 up through the pipe 11 and into the condenser at the top and downwardly through the tubes 3: into and through the pump, which direction of flow is indicated by the dot and dasharrows B. By reversing th direction of flow of water through. the condenser the dbris, algae and other growths will be washed from what is normally the inlets of the tubes 3 and from the tubehead 14 and will be passed through 9 p the pump 5 into the normal intake channel 4; In .Figure 1 of the drawings a priming pump or air fexhauster 20 is illustrated, the operation of which is controlled through a float tructure 21-. 10o

A screen 17 of any approved construction may be positioned in the channel 12.

In Figure 2 of the drawings, a modified form of the condenser system is illustrated in which the circulating pump is on the nor- Inal discharge side of the condenser'31 and through leaky pump stufling boxes and joints when the water pressure in the pump'is below atmospherlc pressure, which is a common condition during periods of low water level.

The normal circulation of water through the modified form of the water circulating sys-' tem for condensers is from the intake channel 34 upwardly through the nozzle 35, through the water box 36 and into and through the tubes 32 of the condenser. After passing through the tubes 32 of the condenser 31 the water passes through the intake pipe 37 of the pump structure 30 and is discharged by the pump into the channel 38. Webs 39 are positioned at the mouth of the nozzle 35' and are crossed preferably at 90 angles so as to prevent formation of a vortex in the water as it enters the condenser. A stream line grating 40 is shown beneath the working space of the condenser. Should d-bris and growth accumulate on the head 33 and normal inlets of the tubes 32 of the condenser 31, the direction of rotation of the impeller 41 of the pump 30 may be reversed by reversing the motor 42 through the medium of the reversed terminal connections 4 which will force the water into thecondenser 31 at the, top and outwardly through the condenser'and nozzle 35 into the channel 34. A priming pump or air exhauster a5 is shown associated with the modified form of condenser system and, its operation is controlled by the float 46.

It will be understood that the invention is Y got to be limited to the specific construction or arrangement of parts shown but that these may be modified widely within the invention defined by the claims.

:What' is claimed is:

1. The combination with .a steam 635- denser, of a circulating pump for forcing cooling water through the condenser, means .for operating said pifmp and means for reversing the direction of operation of the pump for reversing the flow of water through the condenser.

2. The combination'with a condenser, of awater circulating pump of such type as to -'permit reversing of direction vof operation of its water t rough the pump whereby the directlon of flow of cooling water through the ropeller for reversing the flow of.

condenser may be reversed for removing accumulating dbris, and growths from the tube head of the condenser.

3. The combination with a condenser, of a water circulating pump of such type'as to permit reversing of direction of operation of its propeller for reversing the flow of water through the pump whereby the direction of flow of cooling water through the condenser may be reversed for removing accumulating dbris, and growths from the tube head of the condenser, and means forpreventing a Vortex in the water at its entrance to the condenser system.

4. In a condenser system, inlet and discharge water channels, a condenser, a pump for drawing water from one of said channels and forcing it through said condenser into the other channel, said pump being of the type whereby direction of rotation of its impeller may be reversed for reversing the direction of flow of water through the pump 

